Poland women lose 0:1 to Belgium in World Cup playoff, Pajor misses penalty

A tense first half in Heverlee

Belgium entered the match as favourites at Den Dreef in Heverlee, and the hosts controlled the early exchanges. Kinga Seweryn was tested repeatedly, parrying a long-range shot and a header from Marie Detruyer, while Elena Dhont sent one effort over the bar. Poland's first real chance came in the 16th minute, when Ewa Pajor struck from about 16 metres, but Lowiese Seynhaeve dealt with it. Poland had a further opening after a poor Belgian goalkeeping exit, but could not finish it.

Two penalties, one saved in each half

VAR reviewed a challenge in the 33rd minute, when Wiktoria Zieniewicz held Dhont by the left arm and prevented her from reaching the ball. The referee awarded Belgium a penalty, and Tessa Wullaert, who is 33, stepped up to take it. Seweryn read her intentions and made the save, and Zieniewicz was shown a yellow card. In the 57th minute, after a set-piece foul by Sari Kees on Paulina Dudek, the referee Emanuela Rusta awarded Poland a penalty following a VAR check. Pajor's low shot to the left was saved by Seynhaeve, who guessed the direction correctly.

Dhont's goal before the break

In the third minute of added time at the end of the first half, Wullaert played a through ball to Dhont. Dhont's shot toward the far post beat Seweryn and gave Belgium a 1:0 lead at the interval. The second half gave Poland more of the play, with Ewelina Kamczyk's strike through the middle and Oliwia Wos's shot forcing saves. Natalia Padilla-Bidas came close to an equaliser in the 82nd minute, and Poland's goalkeeper made two saves in quick succession.

Look how she read that.

Commentator Joanna Tokarska praised Seweryn's save from the first-half penalty in those words, as the match moved toward a 1:0 Belgian win.

What the result means for qualification

Poland finished last in their four-team qualifying group with one point, collecting five defeats and one draw. That placed them fourth in group 2 of division A and 14th overall, which sent them into the European playoffs as one of the teams placed second to fourth. Belgium finished second in their group with 14 points, playing in a lower league. Seven of the eight playoff winners will qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup, so a Polish playoff win does not guarantee a place. The lowest-ranked winner must play a single intercontinental playoff in February 2027 against a side from Venezuela, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Ecuador, or the fifth or sixth-placed CONCACAF Cup team.

The first playoff matches are scheduled for 9 and 13 October, with the remaining stages planned for late November and early December. The World Cup will feature 32 teams, and Spain, Germany, France and Denmark have already qualified directly from Europe.